Internally reinforced shank for a railway coupler

ABSTRACT

The key slot of a railway coupler shank is modified to distribute tensile forces to the top, bottom and sidewalls of the shank. Upper and lower straps angle away from the key bearing wall of the key slot and into the top and bottom walls of the shank providing openings above and below the key slot thereby lightening the shank and improving the containment of the key slot core for more effective manufacturing. An upper and a lower support rib in each opening is respectively connected to the top wall and the upper strap and the bottom wall and the lower strap to properly locate the key in the key slot.

mted States Patent [151 3,640,402 Altherr et al. 51 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] INTERNALLY REINFORCED SHANK 1,869,035 7/1932 Wolfe ..2l3/62 FOR A RAILWAY COUPLER 2,681,157 6/1954 Metzger... ....213/69 3,063,573 11/1962 Fumiss .213 67 [72] Inventors: Russell G. Altherr; Paul F. Shramovich; Nelson 'i all Of Chicago, Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman [73] Assigneez Amsmd Industries Incorporated Chicago Attorney-Walter L. SchlegaLJr. and John W. Yakimow Ill.

[57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1969 The key slot of a railway coupler shank 1S modified to dis- 1 l PP 875,207 tribute tensile forces to the top, bottom and sidewalls of the shank. Upper and lower straps angle away from the key bearing wall of the key slot and into the top and bottom walls of the (g1 .JEgLi/ig/fi; shank providing openings above and below he My SM [58 I me'ld 64 69 thereby lightening the shank and improving the containment of the key slot core for more efi'ective manufacturing. An upper and a lower support rib in each opening is respectively [56] References cued connected to the top wall and the upper strap and the bottom UNYTED STATES PATENTS wall and the lower strap to properly locate the key in the key slot. 1,482,751 2/1924 Kinne ..2l3/62 1,647,544 1 H1927 Robinson ..21 3/62 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIEB FEB 81972 3,640,402

SHEET E OF 2 IN VENTORS RUSSELL G. ALTHERR PAUL F. SH OVICH NELSON D. ZGER INTERNALLY REINFORCED SHANK FOR A RAILWAY COUPLER This patent relates to a railway coupler having a shank with a key slot therein and a key projecting through the key slot.

Couplers having a key slot in the shank have exhibited undesirable elongation and breakage in the butt area during heavy pulling. This breakage and elongation becomes more prevalent with increased train speeds and higher capacity demands.

It is desirable to cast a shank having a curved rearward key bearing wall. Location of the key slot core though has created a problem during casting of the coupler. The core has a tendency to move laterally within the casting mold. A slight lateral movement of the key slot core results in misalignment and an unusable coupler casting.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved shank for a railway coupler.

Another object of the invention is to improve the containment of the key slot core in a railway coupler casting mold.

A further object of the invention is to distribute draft loads across a greater area of the coupler.

Other objects and advantages off the invention will become apparent in the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional top plan view of a coupler taken on the centerline of the key slot and embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of a coupler taken on the centerline of the shank;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the entire shank taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the entire shank taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the entire shank taken on line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional side view of a key slot taken on the centerline of the shank and embodying features of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the entire shank taken on line 7 7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a coupler 10 having an AAR-type E head 12 and the contour of an E60-type shank 14. A key slot 16 extends laterally through shank 14 adjacent butt 18. A key may project through key slot 16 and be used to connect coupler 10 to a yoke in a known manner (not shown). The dimensions of key slot 16 may be according to AAR standards as may be the exterior dimensions of shank 14.

The forward end of shank 14 is illustrated as a boxlike section 20 (FIG. 5) defined by top and bottom walls 22 and 24 and opposed sidewalls 26 and 28. A forward wall 30 (FIG. 2) may interconnect the top and bottom walls 22 and 24 and the sidewalls 26 and 28 and act as an end wall for the cavity defined by boxlike section 20. A forward reinforcing rib 32 (FIGS. I and 2) may be provided between top and bottom walls 22 and 24 and connected to forward wall 30.

Upper and lower straps 34 and 36 respectively are con nected to butt l8 and extend forward therefrom along a portion of key slot 16. The upper and lower straps 34 and 36 then angle away from the key slot 16 rearward of forward wall 30 in opposite directions and are respectively connected to top and bottom walls 22 and 24. Corresponding pairs of upper and lower support ribs 38 and 40 are connected to and project forward from inner surfaces 42 on the upper and lower straps 34 and 36 and are also respectively connected to and project away from the top and bottoms walls 22 and 24. Lower and upper surfaces 44 and 46 respectively on upper and lower sup port ribs 38 and 40 define a portion of key slot I6 (FIGS. 2 and 4). Cavities 48 are located intermediate the support ribs 38 and 40 above and below key slot 16 (FIG. 4).

The shank 14 may be further lightened by upper and lower lightener cavities 52 and 54 located on the top and bottom of the shank. A rear lightener cavity 56 may be located in butt I8.

Definite starting and termination points for walls and sections in shank 14 do not exist. Butt I8 is considered to extend across the entire rear end of shank l4 rearward of key slot 16. Top and bottom walls 22 and 24 extend rearward from coupler head 12 into upper and lower straps 34 and 36. The upper and lower straps are considered as that part of the shank 14 that interconnects the top and bottom walls 22 and 24 with butt l8. Sidewalls 26 and 28 interconnect coupler head 12 and forward wall 30 and also interconnect top and bottom walls 22 and 24 in boxlike section 20. The forward wall 30 may transverse shank 14 and interconnect top and bottom walls 22 and 24 forward of key slot 16. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 the key slot 16 is defined by the butt I8, forward wall 30, upper and lower straps 34 and 36 and upper and lower support ribs 38 and 40.

During straight pulling, force exerted by the key is transmitted laterally across butt I8 through key bearing wall 58 and into upper and lower straps 34 and 36 and then distributed to both the top and bottom walls 22 and 24 and the upper and lower support ribs 38 and 40 (FIG. 2). Part of the force is then transmitted through forward wall 30 and forward reinforcing rib 32. Forward of forward wall 30 all of the force is distributed to the top and bottom walls 22 and 24 and the opposed sidewalls 26 and 28.

If desired forward wall 30 and forward reinforcing rib 32 may be eliminated. Upper and lower support ribs 38 and 40 could then be blended into top and bottom walls 22 and 24 forward of key slot 16 (not shown). Reinforcing rib 32 could also be maintained without forward wall 30. In this latter arrangement the upper and lower support ribs 38 and 40 on the sides of the shank 14 could blend into top and bottom walls 22 and 24 forward of key slot 16. The center support ribs 38 and 40 (FIG. 4) would blend into rib 32. The reinforcing rib 32 would end proximate the forward edge of key slot 16 similar to forward wall 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (embodiment not shown).

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. The inner surfaces 42 of upper and lower straps 34 and 36 are tangential to the rearward curved key bearing wall 58 of key slot I6. The ribs 38 and 40 are spaced from the sides of the shank 14. By moving the straps 34 and 36 rearwardly the cavities 48 are increased in size. It is also contemplated that the upper and lower straps 34 and 36 may be moved forward of the position shown in FIG. 2. The support ribs 38 and 40 may also be increased or reduced in number. In all embodiments it is desired that the lightener cavities 48 be maintained thereby limiting the forward movement of the straps 34 and 36 to a point rearward of forward wall 30.

In order to manufacture the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 the key slot core would have to have wide side bearing flanges to correspond to the cavities 48 illustrated on each side of shank 14. These wide side bearing flanges would also locate the key slot core relative to the sides of the casting mold and would eliminate lateral movement of this core during casting. End sections of the key slot core could project into openings of the casting mold and retard longitudinal and vertical movement of the core. If desired the rearward portion of the key slot core that defines the key bearing wall 58 could be curved or could have angular projections proximate each side of shank 14.

In both of the illustrated embodiments the key slot core is strengthened due to the added material needed to form cavities 48. Such cores are easier to make and add to casting efficiency.

What is claimed is:

I. In a railway coupler of the type having a shank with a key slot therein and key projecting through said key slot, the improvement comprising:

a. a rearward key bearing wall in said key slot;

b. an upper strap having a lower inner surface blending intO said key bearing wall of said key slot, said upper strap being angular relative to said key slot;

c. a top wall connected to said upper strap and extending forward therefrom, said top wall having a lower inner surface spaced from said key;

d. an upper support rib connected to sand projecting forward from said inner surface of said upper strap and connected to and projecting downward from the lower surface of said top wall, said upper support rib having a lower surface defining a portion of said key slot:

e. a lower strap having an upper inner surface blending into said key bearing wall of said key slot, said lower strap being angular relative to said key slot;

f. a bottom wall connected to said lower strap and extending forward therefrom, said bottom wall having an upper inner surface spaced from said key; and

g. a lower support rib connected to and projecting forward from said inner surface of said lower strap and connected to and projecting upward from said upper surface of said bottom wall, said lower support rib having an upper surface defining a portion of said key slot.

2. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein one of said straps extends forward along a portion of said key slot away from said rearward key bearing wall to define an upper portion of said key slot and then angles relative to said key slot.

3. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein both of said straps extend forward along a portion of said key slot away from said rearward key bearing wall to define portions of said key slot and then angle relative to said key slot.

4. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein a forward reinforcing rib interconnects said top and bottom walls and defines a portion of said key slot.

5. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein upper and lower lightener cavities are respectively located in the top and bottom portion of said shank rearward of said upper and lower straps.

6. The railway coupler set out in claim I wherein a plurality of spaced upper support ribs are connected to and project for ward from said inner surface of said upper strap and are connected to and project downward from the lower surface of said top wall, said upper support ribs having lower surface defining a portion of said key slot, and a plurality of space lower support ribs are connected to and project forward from said inner surface of said lower strap and are connected to and project upward from said upper surface of said bottom wall, said lower support ribs having upper surfaces defining a portion of said key slot.

7. The railway coupler set out in claim I wherein said upper and lower support ribs are spaced from the sides of said shank.

8. The railway coupler set out in claim 7 wherein said upper and lower support ribs respectively blend into said top and bottom walls forward of said key slot.

9. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein a forward wall interconnects said top and bottom walls and defines a portion of the key slot, and said upper and lower support ribs terminate at said forward wall.

10. The railway coupler set out in claim 9 wherein a forward reinforcing rib interconnects said top and bottom walls and is connected to the forward surface of said forward wall. 

1. In a railway coupler of the type having a shank with a key slot therein and key projecting through said key slot, the improvement comprising: a. a rearward key bearing wall in said key slot; b. an upper strap having a lower inner surface blending into said key bearing wall of said key slot, said upper strap being angular relative to said key slot; c. a top wall connected to said upper strap and extending forward therefrom, said top wall having a lower inner surface spaced from said key; d. an upper support rib connected to and projecting forward from said inner surface of said upper strap and connected to and projecting downward from the lower surface of said top wall, said upper support rib having a lower surface defining a portion of said key slot: e. a lower strap having an upper inner surface blending into said key bearing wall of said key slot, said lower strap being angular relative to said key slot; f. a bottom wall connected to said lower strap and extending forward therefrom, said bottom wall having an upper inner surface spaced from said key; and g. a lower support rib connected to and projecting forward from said inner surface of said lower strap and connected to and projecting upward from said upper surface of said bottom wall, said lower support rib having an upper surface defining a portion of said key slot.
 2. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein one of said straps extends forward along a portion of said key slot away from said rearward key bearing wall to define an upper portion of said key slot and then angles relative to said key slot.
 3. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein both of said straps extend forward along a portion of said key slot away from said rearward key bearing wall to define portions of said key slot and then angle relative to said key slot.
 4. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein a forward reinforcing rib interconnects said top and bottom walls and defines a portion of said key slot.
 5. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein upper and lower lightener cavities are respectively located in the top and bottom portion of said shank rearward of said upper and lower straps.
 6. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein a plurality of spaced upper support ribs are connected to and project forward from said inner surface of said upper strap and are connected to and project downward from the lower surface of said top wall, said upper support ribs having lower surface defining a portion of said key slot, and a plurality of space lower support ribs are connected to and project forward from said inner surface of said lower strap and are connected to and project upward from said upper surface of said bottom wall, said lower support ribs having upper surfaces defining a portion of said key slot.
 7. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower support ribs are spaced from the sides of said shank.
 8. The railway coupler set out in claim 7 wherein said upper and lower support ribs respectively blend into said top and bottom walls forward of said key slot.
 9. The railway coupler set out in claim 1 wherein a foRward wall interconnects said top and bottom walls and defines a portion of the key slot, and said upper and lower support ribs terminate at said forward wall.
 10. The railway coupler set out in claim 9 wherein a forward reinforcing rib interconnects said top and bottom walls and is connected to the forward surface of said forward wall. 